Substorm breakup on closed field lines

• This model explains why breakup has been observed as low as L = 5-6 and predicts that a higher concentration of O+ in the plasma sheet will permit breakup at such low L values. It is argued that the establishment of a coupled current structure within a single arc leads to a quasi-stable system i.e. the pre-breakup regime. Perturbation of the pre-breakup structure leads to an instability criterion. Certain quiescent configurations are inherently unstable. Thus transitions from a stable to an unstable situation can trigger a rapid poleward expansion of the quiescent arc or substorm breakup. In our model the kinetic energy of injected plasma from the magnetotail supplies the energy for breakup. © 1989.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Fusion, plasma och rymdfysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Fusion, Plasma and Space Physics (hsv//eng)

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ref (subject category)

art (subject category)